1 dead, 6 hurt when SUV crashes into Buena Park ice cream parlor line
Police are investigating a crash outside a crowded Buena Park ice cream parlor that left a woman dead and six other people hurt Friday. The victims were standing in line outside the business.
The accident occurred at low speed in front of Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour in the 8600 block of Beach Boulevard, according to Cpl. Andy Luong of the Buena Park police.
“We’re known for our lines … because it’s a place of fun, and obviously the fun went very, very tragic today,” said Michael Flemming, chief executive of Parlour Enterprises Inc., told KTLA-TV. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and the driver as well,” he said.
Television news footage showed a small, silver SUV with its front end pressed against a bench. It appeared as if the vehicle had entered a handicapped parking space, but kept going and toppled a fence before coming to rest on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant.
“It looked like the guy put his foot on the gas pedal instead of the brake,” Daniel Long, who was eating with his family inside the restaurant, told KCAL-TV, according to the Associated Press. “There were three people sitting on that bench — he just went straight into them and crushed them up against the window.”
Cpl. Luong described the driver as an elderly man, accompanied by an elderly female passenger.
“Right now he is detained and cooperating with investigators,” he said, adding that he had not been immediately cited. Neither the driver nor his passenger were injured.
A 73-year-old woman who was struck by the SUV was taken by ambulance to UCI Medical Center, where she died.
At least four other people were transported to other hospitals, authorities said. Two victims -- a woman and a girl -- were in critical condition as of 9 p.m., Luong said.
The victims also included a man and his son. No names have been released.
The emergency call came at 6:02 p.m., said Capt. Ben Gonzales of the Orange County Fire Authority.
A few hours later, the SUV and a section of the parking lot and restaurant entrance were still cordoned off with police tape. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
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